The Guess Who – No Time

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  General Comment:It may be useful to go back and read the lyrics to "American Woman." It came out around the same time and the U.S. was receiving heavy criticism around the world for the Vietnam War and radical chic was the order of the day. So both of these songs express some of the same sentiment.

  Flag bluntforcetraumaon May 26, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:Nope. Not even close. Recall this song came out during the antiwar, anti-American upheaval and these guys are Canadian. They released American Woman near the same time. Context explains nearly everything, So this is filled with anti-American sentiment. "Summer friend refers to the tourist exchange between the U.S. and Canada every summer. "The love you send" is likely a reference to American foreign aid sent to Canada and other nations around the globe for which the U.S. seeks favors, open dialogue, etc. The "gentle rain" refers to what Canadians characterized as 'acid rain' from U.S. factories in Detroit whose emissions wafted across the Detroit River. "Revolving doors?" The border, again at Detroit - Windsor and the resultant disputes that arise between the two nations. I too, always believed the line to be "No time for the killing four," which I took to be a reference to the 4 kids shot at an antiwar protest at Kent State University in 1970. Clueless on the "killing floor." Richard Speck?

  Flag bluntforcetraumaon May 26, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:As simple as these lyrics are, they go along way. I've always loved this song but can appreciate the intrinsic value at this point in my life. It's pretty straight forward but it means that this person is finally done with and is able to successfully overcome whatever was weighing them down. They found the strength and courage to realize what they needed to do once and for all. They've been down this road one too many times but won't be deterred again by it's repetitive bumps and circles. They simply don't have time and are moving on to better things that await them....

  Flag Nowandneveron January 04, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I always thought they said "no time for the killing four." As in the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Pestilence, war, famine, and death. Bands at that time were more secretively biblical and EMI records likes to change the lyrics after the fact like many record companies. I'm pretty sure they changed what I considered "I thought that they were angels" in "come sail away" to "I thought that they were alien shells" haha. Also, they botched "changes" by David Bowie. They made it "turn and face the strain" when in reality in an interview in 1990 with a magazine Bowie stated that it was "turn and face the stranger" as he was referring to himself in the future. lyrics are in the beholder I guess.

  Flag the12stringslingeron October 22, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:What do the lyrics "No Time for the killing floor mean"?

  Flag silentthrilleron October 23, 2010   Link

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    The song was recorded during the Vietnam War Era.. The Killing Floor, is used to describe a slaughter house setting, however, because of when this song was done, i believe they were referring to Vietnam..

    Flag ImThWlfManon August 05, 2011  
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  General Comment:and I was living on a carnival with my parents also and I caught snakes and played with hot wheels johnny lightning cars and icee colas fa la la. I was in ky at the time.

  Flag lordnecronon July 06, 2008   Link

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    wrong guys - this is a song about how Canadians viewed American government circa 1970. "... a summer friend" is a comment regarding tribal fishing rights in the U.P. and how tribal fisherman only should be allowed to use gil nets. "...the love you send" is a reference to American foreign aid. "... revolving doors" refers to immigration and border policy. And "No time for a gentle rain?" Acid rain was a lightning rod issue in those days. The Guess Who was a Canadian group. They wrote and recorded a number of political and specifically anti-American songs (American Woman).

    Flag bluntforcetraumaon January 27, 2010  
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  General Comment:This song is about me as a 9 year old in 1970 listening to this tune on a transistor radio while playing with Hot Wheels. Just thought you'd like to know.

  Flag tsreybon September 25, 2006   Link

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    cooooool - like the Hot Wheels reference

    Flag rockboy52on March 07, 2013  
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  General Comment:it's obvious, he has not time for BS. that's all it is.

  Flag slamkingon April 12, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:Then this is one of those songs that are written without any intention or any meaning, and when they finally record it, fans and listeners assume it's because of a break up and it doesn't necesarily sound like a break up, it sounds more like he doesn't really want to be in a relationship at all!

  Flag MookieBomberon September 16, 2005   Link

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  General Comment:Then this is one of those songs that are written without any intention or any meaning, and when they finally record it, fans and listeners assume it's because of a break up and it doesn't necesarily sound like a break up, it sounds more like he doesn't really want to be in a relationship at all!

  Flag MookieBomberon September 16, 2005   Link

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